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There have been many people in the US that have gone to prison for insider trading. Martha Stewart is probably the most famous.

celticninja 15y ago
I dont doubt it, your SEC goes after it agressively, however that it is not illegal for US politicians makes the whole thing a bit of a joke really as they are the people who will have the most opportunity ot profit from some actiosn given that theyc an influence and cotnrol policy which would significantly affect share prices.
- adestefan 15y ago
  Inside trading is specific to a single stock. Most politicians only hold single stock in a blind trust so they can't really perform insider trading. Instead, the flap over "insider trading" for politicians is when they, supposedly, change entire sectors and then trade broad, sector based funds. However, I don't think that has actually been proven with more than a look at these financial disclosures. Does it look bad? Sure. Is it illegal? Nope.
  - celticninja 15y ago
    That is kind of my point, for them it is not illegal, for everyone else it is. They are also protected from the kind of direct insider trading that the SEC tries to stamp out in the private sector, to say that it doesnt occur is to be a bit naieve really. Here have a read: http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/11/16/congress-and-a-16-year-study-of-insider-trading/ http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/11/... "In September 2008, Bachus and other congressional leaders were privately briefed by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy’s imminent meltdown. The next day, Bachus was buying option funds that would increase in value if the economy tanked.It did."
jonknee 15y ago
Martha Stewart didn't go to prison for insider trading. She got convicted because she talked to the Feds (the charges were obstructing justice and lying to investigators). Never talk to the Feds. In her case it was probably ego that did her in, not access to good legal advice. http://money.cnn.com/2004/03/05/news/companies/martha_verdict/ http://money.cnn.com/2004/03/05/news/companies/martha_verdic... "The conviction came exactly a week after U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum threw out the most serious charge against Stewart -- securities fraud -- which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The charge -- which the judge had called "novel" during the trial -- accused Stewart of using her own statements that she was innocent as a ploy to mislead investors in her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia."

celticninja 15y ago

I dont doubt it, your SEC goes after it agressively, however that it is not illegal for US politicians makes the whole thing a bit of a joke really as they are the people who will have the most opportunity ot profit from some actiosn given that theyc an influence and cotnrol policy which would significantly affect share prices.

adestefan 15y ago
Inside trading is specific to a single stock. Most politicians only hold single stock in a blind trust so they can't really perform insider trading. Instead, the flap over "insider trading" for politicians is when they, supposedly, change entire sectors and then trade broad, sector based funds. However, I don't think that has actually been proven with more than a look at these financial disclosures. Does it look bad? Sure. Is it illegal? Nope.
- celticninja 15y ago
  That is kind of my point, for them it is not illegal, for everyone else it is. They are also protected from the kind of direct insider trading that the SEC tries to stamp out in the private sector, to say that it doesnt occur is to be a bit naieve really. Here have a read: http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/11/16/congress-and-a-16-year-study-of-insider-trading/ http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2011/11/... "In September 2008, Bachus and other congressional leaders were privately briefed by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on the economy’s imminent meltdown. The next day, Bachus was buying option funds that would increase in value if the economy tanked.It did."

jonknee 15y ago

Martha Stewart didn't go to prison for insider trading. She got convicted because she talked to the Feds (the charges were obstructing justice and lying to investigators). Never talk to the Feds. In her case it was probably ego that did her in, not access to good legal advice. http://money.cnn.com/2004/03/05/news/companies/martha_verdict/ http://money.cnn.com/2004/03/05/news/companies/martha_verdic... "The conviction came exactly a week after U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum threw out the most serious charge against Stewart -- securities fraud -- which carried a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The charge -- which the judge had called "novel" during the trial -- accused Stewart of using her own statements that she was innocent as a ploy to mislead investors in her company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia."